First names for Bloc. 2011

by Mike Barnard October 27, 2010

Bloc Weekend will celebrate its fifth birthday with respected techno act LFO, Moderat’s last performance until 2013 and a debut appearance from Vitalic. Butlins Minehead will once again become a ravers paradise covering the entire spectrum of electronic dance music.

Since 2007 Bloc has hosted a selection of the most exciting and innovative acts to fuel dancefloors with Aphex Twin, Autechre, Skream, Benga and even Salt n Pepa entertaining the crowds. They’re promising even more pioneering sonic possibilities in March 2011 with the first 10 acts announced.

First up is Warp records originator and UK techno godfather Mark Bell, aka the formidable LFO. The eponymous single “LFO” still sends shivers down old skool raver spines on a regular basis and with a back catalouge of tunes that have not been heard live in the UK since 2008, this will be a very special set. Next up is Moderat, the collaboration between Modeselektor and Apparat, performing their last live show for two years. The project has produced a lush audio-visual spectacular ideally suited to Bloc-goers. Party-starters will be delighted to hear French maestro Vitalic will be delivering his rave-ready take on techno, electro, disco and electronica including the monster “La Rock 01”.

Moderat will perform their last live show for two years.

There will also be live performances from Beardyman, the two-times beatbox champion who always puts a dash of wit with his rhythms, and the Black Devil Disco Club who came to prominence in 1978 with their Disco Club EP as Black Devil – an epic journey into the furthest galaxies of experimental, electronic disco. Its creator, onetime French library music writer Bernard Fevre, returned in 2006 under the guise of Black Devil Disco Club with more dark disco delights and gothic electronic funk. Definitely a set not to be missed. Meanwhile Drexcyian Detroit electro unit Dopplereffekt will relish in dishing up purist Detroit electro at its most envelope-pushing.

DJ-wise, Claude Von Stroke is already on the bill to deliver the house and techno while post-dubstep electronica wunderkid Joy Orbison will be pounding out the bass along with Digital Mystikz, the formidable pairing of Mala and Coki. Finally for this initial taster, Visionquest featuring Seth Troxler, Shaun Reeves & Lee Curtiss will blur sensuous grooves, ocean’s deep arrangements, joyous melodies and classic house and techno sensibilities into an intoxicating psychedelic blur.

There’s much more to come for Bloc Weekend’s fifth birthday held from March 11th to 13th. Watch out for more announcements on the website at www.blocweekend.com. Tickets on sale now.

Bloc.
11th/13th March 2011
Butlins Minehead Resort

Tickets are now available:
£140 +BF per person in a standard apartment
£160 +BF per person in an apartment with a living room & kitchen
£180 +BF per person in a ‘Gold’ apartment with a living room & kitchen

All tickets include four nights private accommodation, access to all Bloc arenas and all of the resort’s facilities – including the water park.